Cos-Petrogaz: Sept Anciens Agents Réclament Réintégration en SN Après 2 Ans

• Seven former agents of COS-PETROGAZ were dismissed in September 2024 and are demanding reintegration.
• Their dismissal followed a service note issued by the new Permanent Secretary, Cheikh Khadim Bamba Diagne, shortly after he took office.
• The agents rejected an amicable termination offer and dispute the stated reasons for their dismissal, citing a lack of prior evaluation.
• Two default judgments were rendered in their favor regarding unpaid salaries and contested dismissals, but the State Judicial Agent appealed these decisions.
• The former employees claim the Prime Minister issued instructions for their reintegration, which have not yet been implemented.

The primary demand of the former COS-PETROGAZ agents remains their reintegration into their previous roles or, as an alternative, their redeployment to other public structures that are suitable for their skills and experience.

Seven former employees of the Strategic Orientation Committee for Oil and Gas (COS-PETROGAZ) are demanding their reinstatement, more than two years after their dismissal in September 2024. The collective representing these agents issued a statement on November 11, 2026, in Dakar, highlighting what they describe as an unfair professional and social predicament and urging government intervention. The dispute originated shortly after Cheikh Khadim Bamba Diagne assumed the role of Permanent Secretary for COS-PETROGAZ. Just one week into his tenure, on September 9, 2024, a service note was issued, terminating the roles of seven individuals across various departments, including IT, communications, accounting, procurement, administrative support, and security.

Initially, the affected agents sought redeployment to alternative positions within the organization. However, on September 13, 2024, they were presented with an offer for an amicable termination of their indefinite employment contracts, which included compensation equivalent to two months' salary. This proposal was unanimously rejected by the group. Subsequently, on September 26, 2024, they received official dismissal notices delivered by a bailiff. The stated grounds for their termination included "incompetence and an incompatible profile for the position," claims which the former employees vehemently contest, asserting that no prior professional evaluations had been conducted to support such allegations. They also point to the non-payment of their September 2024 salaries and other indemnities related to their termination.

In response to their dismissals, the seven former COS-PETROGAZ agents initiated legal proceedings with the assistance of their legal counsel. These efforts led to two default judgments being rendered in their favor, specifically addressing claims for unpaid wages and challenging the legality of their terminations. Despite these initial legal victories, the State Judicial Agent (AJE) subsequently filed an appeal, effectively prolonging the contentious legal battle. The agents have expressed frustration over the persistent difficulties they face in securing the payment of the sums awarded to them by the courts.

Beyond the judicial arena, the collective has also pursued numerous administrative avenues. They have engaged with various competent authorities, including the Commission Nationale des Droits de l'Homme (CNDH), in an attempt to resolve the matter. During these administrative discussions, proposals for an amicable resolution were reportedly put forth, suggesting the reassignment of the agents to other public sector entities that would align with their professional qualifications and experience. However, these efforts have yet to yield a definitive resolution to their situation.

A central point of contention for the former employees revolves around alleged instructions for their reintegration, which they attribute directly to the Prime Minister. According to their statement, the head of government had issued directives supporting their return to public service. Despite these purported high-level instructions, the collective asserts that no concrete actions have been taken to implement them, leaving the agents in a state of prolonged uncertainty. They are now directly appealing to the Prime Minister, Ahmadou Al Aminou Lo, to ensure that these directives are acted upon without further delay.

The primary demand of the former COS-PETROGAZ agents remains their reintegration into their previous roles or, as an alternative, their redeployment to other public structures that are suitable for their skills and experience. The prolonged dispute has had significant economic, familial, and psychological repercussions for those affected. These dismissals have reportedly deprived seven families of their primary sources of income, with one particularly poignant case involving a collaborator who was pregnant at the time of her termination. The collective continues to advocate for an end to this impasse, emphasizing the severe personal impact of the unresolved situation.

Source: Original reporting via local news outlets